Dr. Maylin Soca Perez, DVM, owner of Harmony Animal Clinic in Miami, Florida, has built an impressive 25-year career centered on dedication to animal care and helping her community. Her non-conventional career began in Cuba, where she first developed her skills in veterinary medicine and education.
Dr. Soca Perez’s Unusual Career Path
After graduating from the Agrarian University of Havana in San José de las Lajas, Cuba, in 2000 with a doctorate in veterinary medicine, Dr. Soca Perez taught epidemiology and disaster veterinary medicine at the same university for seven years. This specialized field focuses on animal care during events like hurricanes, which are common in Cuba. She also studied infectious diseases in animals. Following her time at the Agrarian University, Dr. Soca Perez spent eight years at the medical school in Havana, where she developed surgical projects for doctors’ research on humans and performed and taught microsurgery techniques on animals.
Eventually, her career led her to Honduras, where she contributed as the medical director of the hospital at the University of Honduras’ Veterinary Medicine for two years. During that time, she also taught anesthesia and surgery.
Arrival in the U.S.
After arriving in the U.S., Dr. Soca Perez initially took on various jobs. She taught science to sixth graders in Omaha Public Schools for two years, and after that, she began preparing for the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or NAVLE, the board exam required to practice veterinary medicine in North America. After studying for one and a half years, she successfully passed the exam.
For the past five years, Dr. Soca Perez has worked as a veterinarian, primarily in emergency care. After recognizing a need in her community, she opened Harmony Animal Clinic in 2023. The urgent care clinic has extended hours, now open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and offers accessible and affordable veterinary care after most practices have closed for the day. Her goal is to address common animal health issues at a lower cost than 24-hour emergency clinics, a service that many in her community value. Her extensive emergency experience allows her to handle many urgent issues right at her clinic.
Achievements and Future Plans
Dr. Soca Perez credits her lifelong accomplishments to her determination and the consistent support she’s received over the years. She sees her support system as her foundation, and she feels it helps her overcome many difficult challenges. She considers her numerous accomplishments to be her most significant achievements, including building a new life in the U.S., utilizing her skills to serve her community, and establishing her own veterinary clinic.
Looking ahead, Dr. Soca Perez plans to continue expanding her business over the next three to five years. She’s considering opening additional Harmony Animal Clinic locations to provide the same high-quality care to communities in need. She also aims to enhance her professional skills in areas such as ultrasound and endoscopic surgery. She loves to read and learn and has a genuine desire to help both animals and their owners.
